Savoir Faire has been Tagged!

Ok, so I have been tagged by that arbiter of style and savoir faire TJB at Stirred, Straight up with a Twist, to list 7 of my personality traits as indicated by my blog. Well I have spent some sleepless nights pondering this impossible task, and have come up with the below.

I have a bit of thing for exceedingly strong creative women, which is evidenced by the numerous posts on Helena Rubinstein (my favourite) and Elsa Schiaparelli. However I can readily dismiss other women such as Coco Chanel and Elizabeth Arden (who some would put in the same category) as mere trifles (see trait # 2). I am sure that a psychologist would have something to say about this one.

I am selective. I pick and chose what interests me, and to some it would appear fickle, however there is some rhyme and reason behind it (not sure what it is though)

I have always believed in that it is the journey not the destination that counts, hence the proliferation of posts on travel and the social aspect of getting there! However once there I can change my mind.

Things always seemed better in the past, which is not to say I don’t live in the present. People tended to have more style and savoir faire and were real personalities (except for TJB). Celebrities nowadays bore me.

I am a social being, and thrive on human contact, whether it is cyber or face to face, so all of you who read my blog, list yourself as a follower!

I love beautiful things, line and detail, and the aesthetics behind things. Mind you again I am very selective. See point # 2.

I am a visual person and must have copious amounts of pictures to illustrate my blog.

Soviet Savoir Faire in the Air

Not to be outdone in the golden age of flying the soviets and most notably Aeroflot tried their hardest to keep up with the portrayal that flying was fun in the sixties. Being served by a pretty stewardess dressed in the latest cold war chic was not something that was the exclusive domain of western, capitalist airlines. Given today’s offerings I think Aeroflot could be the way to go!

Weekend Away!

This says it all if we wanted a weekend away in the 1960's with some savoir faire. Stay at a Holiday Inn! The promise of some glamour beside the Intersatate awaits middle America on the move!

Savoir Faire Italian Style

It's impossible to think of people with savoir faire without giving mention to Marella Agnelli, Tall and lithe, with classical features, Agnelli was one of the BP's (beautiful people) often found in Diana Vreeland's aristo-chic Vogue. Admitted to the International Best Dressed List in 1963, she eventually became a Hall of Fame member.

.In 1953, Richard Avedon shot and hand-altered a famous portrait of the half-American, half-Neopolitan princess to emphasize the extraordinary length of what renowned fashion illustrator Joe Eula called "the most gorgeous neck in the world." She was also a member of writer Truman Capote's elite colony of society "swans." Comparing Agnelli to that other rare bird, Babe Paley, he said with characteristic tartness, "If they were both in Tiffany's window, Marella would be more expensive."

Wagon Lits Faire

The weekend is nearly upon us and alas I am staying put here in Toronto. Now if I was going somewhere, in Europe I could think of no other way than to go overnight by train in a Wagon Lits carriage. Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (International Sleeping-Car Company) was the only way to travel last century especially between the wars. In Europe, the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits first focused on sleeping cars, but later operated whole trains, including the Simplon-Orient Express, Nord Express, Train Bleu, Golden Arrow, Sud Express and expanded to markets outside of Europe with involvement in the Transsibérien across Russia. Trains criss-crossed Europe, not only carrying the idle rich, but more down to earth travelers and have inspired countless authors such as Agatha Christie and Graham Greene.

Of course advertising for these trains and Wagon Lits was of an exceptionally high standard employing the best graphic artists such as Cassandre to entice the travelling public. Through this we have some of the most iconic images of the twentieth century. This is advertising at its best conveying in single images the speed and savoir faire of the various trains involved.

There is something exciting about travelling overnight by train cocooned in your own special compartment. Of course standards have changed in this modern day era; however we can still travel by sleeper on many trains throughout the world, especially in Europe.

If we hanker after the days of old, there are a many trains de-luxe throughout the world that will re-kindle feeling and savoir faire of Agatha Christie’s ‘Murder on the Orient Express”!

More Schiaparelli Savoir Faire

What happens when the designer with the most savoir faire and the photographer which broke all the rules come together in the 1930’s??

The result is below. Just one of the many photographs Man Ray took of the great Schiaparelli! Lots of classic principles and surrealistic themes come together in this shot of Schiaparelli. Is it a modern day interpretation of the Venus de Milo, one of the most recognised statues of all time, or is it Man Ray’s interpretation of Schiaparelli as a modern day Venus? I will let you decide!

Bespoke Savoir Faire

As a lot of you know September sees me off to Italy for a little sojourn in the land of la dolce vita. I can think of no better way to do it than dressed by Denis Antoine of London. This is bespoke tailoring with a nice casual twist. In the upmost bespoke tradition, they only use the finest cloths from Italy and the United Kingdom, combined with Egyptian and Swiss cotton shirtings, for a casual yet elegant look.

Claret venetian blazer, custom-printed deckchair stripe shirt and herringbone cotton trousers

Midnight blue double-breasted suit and pistachio Swiss cotton shirt

Custom-printed boating stripe blazer, cotton satin shirt and sand cotton herringbone trousers

Alas, I will not be dressed by Denis, but can try and look just as good on a budget!